Google Moving Closer to Submitting Maps App for iOS as Eddy Cue Works to Improve Apple's Maps

[jent]

Apple Maps is quite good but I won't upgrade to iOS 6 until the official Google Maps app is released in the App Store. I find it has the best transit directions and it works seamlessly with the rest of their maps app.

 

[akbarali.ch]

Actually i like the visual of the apple maps, it looks bit cleaner and colourful (not the 3d, the flat top view) better than google. Apple's Map In India its just images and nothing more. I cant even search my local nearest railway station. I also cant route anything. Google map for time being will definiely be a saviour but will ditch it when Apple's on par.

 

[Vodka]

There is no way i'm gonna use native map app in near time until it become useable. I can't find a s#%t while residing in Japan.
If Google maps become paid i'll pay with pleasure, just to get quality maps, not something what cannot be even called "half-baked" like apple's map app.

 

[MacDav]

How would you like to spend your time working on an App. that won't be approved to run on it's intended platform? Talk about lack of motivation. I guess it will only run on jailbroken iPhones?

 

[zbarvian]

Or else people will continue buying their products anyway?

It was a joke

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

I'll pass on anything Google has to offer, Maps or otherwise.

lol. good luck with the internet.

 

[Dolorian]

I think Google is trying too hard to get back in Apple's good grace, but Apple wants Google to disappear.

Huh? How is Google doing so exactly? By releasing Google Maps as a standalone app? Hardly, their maps is a direct competitor to Apple's as is their voice search to Siri. Google releasing their maps and voice search for iOS has more to do with Google wanting to keep iOS users as an audience than with getting into Apple's good grace.

 

[Azmordean]

Obviously the reason google didn't include turn by turn navigation on its previous app is to give its android OS an advantage over apples. Now that apple is offering it with their maps app, google is forced to offer it as well if they expect people to download their app now!

No it was issues around branding and such. E.g., the old Maps app said nothing about Google anywhere. Also - just a note - my understanding is Apple wrote the old Maps app - it just used Google data. As far as source... I will just leave this here:

Apple tried to negotiate with Google to get turn-by-turn navigation, but Google wouldn't give up that data without some concessions from Apple. Google wanted more Google branding in the maps as well as the inclusion of Lattitude, Google's Foursquare-esque social network that tracks people if they opt-in.
Apple didn't want to include either of those things in its maps. So it decided to do its own maps. The result has been a PR disaster for Apple. There are numerous complaints from users about mislabled, or just missing locations. Users are angry at Apple for removing Google-based maps for a product that's inferior. But, it looks like Apple might not have had much of a choice.


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/why-...based-maps-on-the-iphone-2012-9#ixzz2CM3S7DvZ

 

[Prodo123]

In the end Apple gets what it wanted by making Google submit its own Google Maps app with free turn-by-turn navigation.
I wonder if Apple planned this out all along...

 

[Mark Booth]

I'm still on iOS 5 and I have no plans to upgrade for the foreseeable future. I have my doubts that Apple's maps will EVER get to a level of sophistication and accuracy that matches Google's Maps data. Why? Because Google is a moving target. As Apple improves, so will Google. And since this is one of Google's areas of expertise, its map data is simply the best "tool" for the job.

Apple would probably save a lot of money by abandoning its whole reinvent-the-wheel maps folly and simply work out an agreement with Google.

Mark

 

[japanime]

Poor baby. I'm sorry that they didn't get around to your local convenience store ahead of what is likely millions of other tweaks they are making.

Just pointing out a fact is all. No need to insult me for that, is there?

Also, it isn't a "local convenience store." It is The Price, which is one of Japan's leading supermarket chains. And is appears that many of them — thousands across the country — are mislabeled the same way in the Maps app.

 

[BvizioN]

He said iPad youtube app, which in fact, is not available. You edited his comment. Now you just look foolish.

Doh!! Why does this forum atract so many dump ppl now days!!

 

[wutang01]

If Google includes turn-by-turn in their app now, why didn't they just do it before? Wasn't Google's refusal to include this feature, part of the reason Apple dropped their maps app in the first place?

Could be a political move. Force Apple to fall face-first.

Google forced Apple to release maps in its current unofficial alpha state.
Apple forced Google to finally release turn-by-turn for free.

 

[nutjob]

LOL, doubtful that Apple will accept this app. After all, your hardware, which you paid a premium for, is a device to enhance Apple's revenue and profit. The is app doesn't satisfy either of those criteria.

 

[macintologist]

But what about the iPad YouTube app?

Jasmine is an iOS Youtube player by the Alien Blue developer.

 

[a0me]

[url=http://i.imgur.com/pnRhzl.jpg]Image[/URL]

I for one really hope they approve Google Maps. It seems no one else can get Hong Kong right on their maps.

Bizarrely, Nokia Maps have romanized all the Chinese, so subway directions have completely useless translations.

You should check Apple Maps in Japan. Completely useless. Some places are even labeled in Chinese or Korean.

 

[bluespark]

If Google includes turn-by-turn in their app now, why didn't they just do it before? Wasn't Google's refusal to include this feature, part of the reason Apple dropped their maps app in the first place?

According to what I've heard (which may or may not be accurate), Google wanted things in return, specifically the large "g" branding on the app icon. That sort of thing is fine for a third-party app, but not for a core app included on the phone.

 

[jshulman10]

I understand ios maps has its downfalls but it is a beautiful app that works fairly well, it just need more updated data, and better traffic readings.

 

[bluespark]

LOL, doubtful that Apple will accept this app. After all, your hardware, which you paid a premium for, is a device to enhance Apple's revenue and profit. The is app doesn't satisfy either of those criteria.

Nonsense. Plenty of third-party apps don't directly "enhance Apple's revenue and profit." By contrast, having a general policy of allowing quality apps into the app store does increase sales, and therefore revenue and profit. There's not even a chance Apple doesn't accept this app.

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The reason they couldn't add it was because of their agreement with Apple. It's as much Apple's fault as it is Google.

Wrong.

 

[rdlink]

Am I the only one who hasn't had major issues with the new Maps app? Everything I've needed to find has been where it's supposed to be.

No, you're not. You just haven't used hyperbole to describe it's good points, like those who have used it to describe its shortcomings.

 

[a0me]

Anyone who has used the Apple maps app very much knows its fine and the hysteria is overblown. Or you could use one of many free non Google non Apple mapping apps.

Maybe that works where you live, but it's clearly not the case for everyone. If you live in Japan, there's no real equivalent to Google Maps on iPhone (Maps+ offers the same maps but not its feature (public transport, compass support)).

 

[DMinTX]

All the navigation apps I have used have failed me. Of the ones I have used, I like the UI of Apple Maps the best. And I like how it integrates with iOS better.

TomTom sent me to a corn field instead of a Dairy Queen in a not-so-small Texas town.

Motion X Drive likes to cut a few feet off your trip by telling you to exit off an interstate and take the service road during right hand bends.

And Google Maps has the street numbers for my entire street wrong. The homes were built in 2001 and I and my neighbors have submitted multiple reports over the years. We just have to deal with people using it going to the wrong house, or tell our friends to use Mapquest for online searches for our houses.

 

[a0me]

The reason they couldn't add it was because of their agreement with Apple. It's as much Apple's fault as it is Google.

Wrong.

Wrong yourself: Apple-Google Maps Talks Crashed Over Voice-Guided Directions

 

[Michael Scrip]

Am I the only one who hasn't had major issues with the new Maps app? Everything I've needed to find has been where it's supposed to be.

Me too.

The few times I've used Apple Maps it got me to where I needed to go (plus the turn-by-turn is beautiful)

It even navigated me to a rental cabin way up a dirt road in the mountains.

I think the problem isn't exactly with finding an address... as most addresses have been around for a while. Any mapping solution should be able to find an address (assuming it's not a brand new subdivision or something)

The problem is with POI and other business data. For instance... Apple thinks there are two Wal-Marts in my town. But there's only one... and that one has been here for a decade or more.

What's weird is the other address Apple thinks is a Wal-Mart was never a Wal-Mart... is was actually an old factory...

I have no idea how that happened...

As others have said though... Apple Maps work great in some areas... and not-so-great in other areas.

But for the most part... I use Apple's turn-by-turn navigation instead of Motion-X

 

[G51989]

....NOW Google decides to include free turn-by-turn navigation that's been on Android for what...3 years now? Thanks a lot, a$$holes.

Don't blame Google, blame Apple. Apple wanted more for nothing, they wanted turn by turn for nothing in return. Google walked out.